Drilling apparatus.



G. H. GILMAN.

DR|LL|NG APPARMUS.

4APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16 1915.

G.\H. GILMAN.

DRILLING APPARATUS.

1,250,933. y PPLICAUON FILE'D MAR.16.I915 Dec. 18,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

| l i i m6 M- y 1% G. H. GILMAN.

DRILLING PPRTUS.

APPLxcATloN FILED mAR.16.1915.

Patented Deo. 18, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@@@Zg @52% mmm. by Y@ UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

GEORGE H. GILMAN,VOF CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR T0 SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS. V

DRILLING APPARATUS.

Application led March 1G, 1915.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. GILMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Claremont, county of Sullivan, and State of New Hampshire, have invented an Im,- provernent in Drilling Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to drilling apparatus, and is more particularly, though not exclusively, concerned with a pressure iuid drilling apparatus of the percussive type.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the following specification, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of one illustrative embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, of a drilling apparatus embodying my invention, a portion of the feed cylinder, the supporting column, and the drill-bit being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the apparatus on line 2 2 of Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a plan section, on line 3 3 of Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is a plan sectionalview on line 1 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5' is a detail, longitudinal, vertlcal section on line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View, on an enlarged scale, on line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a detail, sectional view, on an enlarged scale, on line 7 7 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, and to the embodiment of my invention which I have selected for illustration, I have there shown a drilling apparatus comprising a drilling tool l0, which may be of any appropriate construction, and which is herein shown supported by the guiding means for forward and backward movement, the same herein comprising a slide 11 and a guide 12 therefor, the slide being fixedly secured to the rear end ofthe drilling tool. In the specific example herein shown, the slide 11 and guide Y Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 18, 1917.

serial No. 14,740.

12 are in the form of telescopically arranged piston and cylindervmembers, and may be utilized as a feeding' means to advance or retract the tool. The drilling tool and its guiding means thus constitutea unitary structure, which ismounted on a novel supporting mechanism which I will now describe.

A suitable support 13, herein in the form of an upright column having a jack screw 14 of common form, whereby it may be fiX- edly secured by engagement with the roof and floor of the mine in the customary manner, is provided with a laterally extending arm 15, having a clamp comprising clam ing members l16 and 17 provided with clamping bolts 18, whereby it may be secured to the column 13 at an appropriate height. To the rigid support as thus constituted, the drilling tool and its guiding mechanism are connected by parallel-motion mechanism, which permits the tool to move in any direction in a. plane transverse to its aXis. The mechanism also includes means permitting the tool to be adjusted angularly in any direction. This alining mechanism may take other forms, but in the present embodiment thereof, comprises an arm 19, mounted to swing in a generally vertical plane about the axis of a suitable pivot, herein in the form of a stud 20, projecting from an appropriate saddle 21 atiixed to the rigid arm 15 by a clamp collar comprising two clamping members 22 and 23, provided with' clamping bolts 24, whereby the collar may be secured atv the desired point on the rigid arm 15, and adjusted about the axis of the latter. Herein, the saddle 21 is provided with the frictional resistance by causing one disk to bear with greater or less degree of pressure against the other, such means in the present instance comprising a hand-nut 27, having screw-threaded engagement with a reduced portion 28 of the stud 20, a helically coiled spring 29 encircling the reduced por-r tion 28, bears at one end against a shoulder l30 on the stud, and at its other end against a washer 31, interposed between the nut 27 and the arm 19, said spring being arranged to cause the disk 26 to recede from the disk 25, to lessen the friction when the nut 27 is turned in the proper direction.

It will now be apparent that the swinging arm 19 constitutes a species of pendulum, by which the drilling tool is suspended from the fixed support to swing about an axis extending in a general direction parallel to its own. It should here be noted that the tool, in swinging about such axis, is capable of accommodatin itself automatically to lateral `changes ot alinement of the drilled hole, as the drilling operation proceeds.

As a means or permitting the drilling tool to be adjusted in a vertical direction as the drilling operation proceeds, the arm 19 is herein made in the form of two telescopically arranged members 32 and 33. t will now be evident that by use of this telesco ic and swinging connection of the arm with the support, the tool is permitted t'o move in any desired direction in a plane transverse to its own axis.

Should -it be desired to manually adjust the telescopic connections as' described, appropriate means may be employed for that purpose, such for example as a rack 34 and pinion 35. As herein shown, the rack is carried by the member 33, and the pinion is secured to a shaft 36, journaled in suitable bearings provided in ears 37 and 38 projecting laterally from the member 32. r,The telescopically arranged members may be secured in the desired position of adjustment by suitable means, herein connected to the pinion 35 to lock the latter against rotation,

whereby the rack is locked against length-v wise movement. As herein, shown, the shaft 36 is'provided for this purpose with a projecting terminal portion 39, on which a hand lever 40 is fulcrumed at 41. ri`his hand lever is provided with suitable means, normally to hold the shar't against rotation, but permitting the same to be released at will, and rotated by the use of the hand lever. For this purpose, the latter is herein provided with a tooth 42, which is adapted to enter any one of a series of depressions 43 in an outer face of the ear 38, whereby in any one o"A a plurality of predetermined positions of adjustment, the pinion may be positively locked. j

As a means for normally maintaining the locking engagement of the tooth with the selected depression, the hand lever 40 herein carries a spring 44, which, by acting against a pin 45, presses the latter against the outer face of the ear 38, and reacting upon the lever, moves the handle portion in an outward direction. The locking engagement remesa may be interrupted by simply pressing the handle of the leverx inwardly, whereupon the saine may be employed to turn the pinion for the purpose of adjusting the telescopic members, after which the release of the handle causes the parts to be locked in the selected position of adjustment.

Brief reference has already been made to the use of means for permitting the drilling tool to be adjusted angularly to compensate for changes in direction of the drilled hole,

V48 and 49, pivotally connected to each other by a stud 50, whereby they may be opened to receive or to release the ball member, and whereby they mav be caused to confine the latter with the requisite degree of friction to resist to a greater or less degree turning movement of the ball member within the socket member. To this end, two portions of the collar are connected to each other at a point substantially opposite their pivot by a clamping bolt 51, hinged at 52 to the inember 48, and having a nut 53, whereby the clamping action may be varied. if desired, this nut may be provided with a' grasping handle 54, to obviate the use of a wrench.

if desired, the described clamping means may be utilized additionally to hold the cylinder 12 against axial movement with relation to the ball member, the latter for this purpose being herein provided with a plurality of slotsv 55, whereby it is rendered to a certain extent extensible and contractible, and may be contracted by the use of the clamping collar, thereby to clamp the cylinder rmly in place.

By simply loosening the clamping means, the cylinder may be moved axially with relation to the ball member for the purpose of adjusting the drillin tool for different V lengths of drill steel. T is may be conven-V iently accomplished by holding the drilling tooll iXed and applying air to the front or rear end of the feed cylinder, as the case may be, to cause the latter to be moved in the desired direction and to the proper eX- trnt. During this adjusting operation, the drilling tool may be conveniently held in fixed position by causing the drillin steel to be cramped in thejdrill hole, thereby aii'ording the desired degree of resistance to permit the feed cylinder to be moved one Way or the other, after this clamp has been loosened.

lt should now be apparent that the drilling tool is supported 'by a parallel-motion mechanism and a universal connection, whereby it is capable of a perfect freedom of adjustment in either direction within certain reasonable limits, and that therefore the machine is enabled to accommodate itself, or be readily adjusted, to changes in direction or alinement of the drilled hole as the drilling operation proceeds, thus leaving the operator free to give his attention to other matters, such for example as another drilling machine, or the removal of the de` bris known as mucking,v This arrangement, moreover, facilitates the changing of drill steels, because this may be accomplished by simply osetting the machine with relation to the drilled hole and removing the drill steel from the latter, without otherwise disturbing the machine. The latter possesses still another advantage, that of permitting the drilling of holes very close to a wall extending in a general direction parallel to the axis of the machine, this being arranged possibly by the offset arrangement of the drilling tool with relation to the pivot on which it is hung. n

The drilling tool itself may be of any' l other approprite construction, but is herein of the pressure-fluid actuated type, having a cylinder 56 within which a piston 57 is mounted to reciprocate. The piston may actuate a` drill-bit 58 in any appropriate manner, but is herein provided with a reduced portion 59 constituting a hammer bar extension arranged to deliver al rapid suc` cession of blows upon the drill-bit, or upon a striking pin 60, the drill-bit being held loosely by a chuck 61 having a suitable rotating mechanism 62. The piston is herein reciprocated under the control of a suitable distributing valve 63 mounted in the valve casing 64 having a pressure Isupply space 65, from which pressure fluid is delivered alternately to ports 66 and 67 at the front and rear ends respectively of the cylinder.

The cylinder 56 is herein provided with a rear cylinder head 68, to which is rigidly attached the forward end of the piston 12, or its piston rod 69. The feeding device may be of any suitable character, but herein the slide 11 and piston 12, as already indicated, constitute the piston and cylinder of a pressure-Huid operated feeding mechanism. The specific construction and mode of opera'- tion of the feeding mechanism is not essential to the present invention, and it may, therefore, be stated that any one of many suitable well-known devices of this character can be used, but `for this purpose of illusvided with a passage 73 for the supply of pressure fluid to one end of the cylinder, and a passage 74 for exhausting the pressure' fluid from the opposite end of the cylinder through an atmospheric vent 75. It should be understood, however, that other forms of feeding mechanisms may be employed to advantage.

While I have herein shown and described one form or embodiment of my invention for illustrative purposes, and have disclosed and discussed in detail the construction and arrangement incidental to one specific application thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is limited neither to the mere details or relative arrangement of parts, nor to its specific embodiment herein shown, but that extensive deviations from the illustrated form or embodiment of the invention may be made, without departing from the principles thereof. l

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire by Letters Patent to procure is 1. A drilling apparatus comprising, lin combination, a drilling tool, va support, and connections between said tool and said support including ai universal joint permitting the direction of the tools axis to be changed, a pivot by which said tool is mounted to swing about an axis extending in the same general direction as that of said tool, and means permitting the axisv of said tool to be rectilinearly adjusted toward and from said pivot.

2. A drilling apparatus comprising, in combination, a drilling tool, a su port, and connections betweensaid tool and)sa'id support including a universal joint permitting the direction of the tools axis to be changed, a pivot by which said .tool is mounted to swing about an axis extending in thejsame general direction as that of said ftool, and means for rectilinearlyadjusting the axis of said tool toward and from said pivot.

3. A drilling g apparatus comprising, in combination', a drilling tool, a support, and connections between said tool and said support including a universal joint permitting the direction ofv the 'tools axis to be changed, a pivotl by which said tool is mounted .to swing. about an axis extending in the same general direction as that of said tool, means permitting the axis of said tool to be rec-V tilinearly adjusted toward and fromv said plvot, and means to secure said tool in the desired position of adjustment.'

4. A drilling apparatus comprising, in combination, a` drilling tool, a support, and connections between said tool and-said supportv includinga universal joint permittin the direction of the tools axis to be change4 a pivot by which said tool is'mounted to swing about anaxis in thesame general direction as that of said tool, and telescopic means interposed between said joint and said pivot and permitting the axis of said tool to be rectili'nearly adjusted toward and from said pivot.

A drilling apparatus comprising, 1n combination, a drilling tool, a support, and connections between said tool and said support including a universal joint permitting the direction of the tools axis to be changed, a pivot by which said tool is mounted to swing about an axis extending in the same general direction as that of saidtool, and means comprising a rack and pinion for rectilinearly adjusting the axis of said tool toward and from said pivot in a direction transverse to the axis of said tool.

6. A drilling apparatus comprising, in combination, a drilling tool,.a support, and connections between said tool and said support including a universal joint permitting the direction of the tools`axis to be changed, a pivot by which said tool is mounted to swing about an axis extending in the same general direction as that of said tool, means comprising a rack and pinion for rectilinearly adjusting said tool toward and from. said pivot, and means for securing said pinion against rotation.

7. A drilling apparatus comprising, in combination, a drilling tool, a support, and connections between said tool and said support including a universal joint permitting the direction of the tools axis to be changed, a pivot by which said tool is mounted to swing about an axis extending in the same general direction as that of said tool, means comprising a rack and pinion for adjusting said tool toward and from said pivot, means for securing said pinion against rotation, and a single means for turning said pinion and operating said securing means.

8. A drilling apparatus comprising, in combination, a drilling tool; feeding means therefor; a support; and mechanism connecting said drilling tool and its feeding means to said support including a universal joint by which said tool and its feeding means are'rendered angularly adjustable, a pivot by which said tool and its feeding means are mounted to swing about an axis extendingpin the same general direction as the axis of said tool, and telescopic means permitting the axis of said tool and its feed in means to be adjusted toward and from said pivot while said telescopic means maintains the direction of the axis of the tool.

9. Drilling apparatus comprising in combination, a percussive tool; a xed support therefor; and a pivoted arm extending in a direction transverse to the axis of the tool operatively interposed between said support and said tooland adapted to swing about an axis extending in the same general direcmasones tion as the axis of said tool, said arm including a plurality of longitudinally relatively movable members and providing means for preventing rotative movement of said members relative to each other, whereby said tool may swing about the axis of said pivot or move toward or away from the axis of said pivot while maintaining unchanged the direction ofthe axis of said tool.

10. Drilling apparatus comprising, in combination, a percussive tool; a fixed support therefor; a pivoted arm extending inadirection transverse to the axis of the tool operatively interposed between said support and said tool and adapted to swing about an axis extending in the same general direction as the axis of said tool; and a universal joint interposed between said arm and said tool, whereby said tool may swing about said arm, or change its angular relation to said pivot thereby accommodating itself to changes in direction of the drilled hole.

ll. Drilling apparatus comprising, in

combination, a percussive tool; a fixed support. therefor; a pivoted extensible and contractible arm extending in a direction transverse to the axis of the tool operatively interposed between said vsupport and said tool and adapted to swing about an axis extending in the same general direction 'as the axis of-said tool; and a universal joint interposed between said arm and said tool whereby said tool may swing about said arm, move toward or away from said arm, or change its angular relation to said pivot thgreby accommodating itself to changes in direction of the drilled hole.

12. Drilling apparatus comprising, in combination, a hammer drill, pressure fluid feeding meanstherefor axially alined therewith, the ball and socket members 46 and 47 engaging said ressure fluid feeding means, the longitudinally extensible arm 32-33; the pivotal support 20-26 extending in the same general direction as the axis of the drill and operatively connected to a fixed support, the whole apparatus being organized and operating substantially as described. v

13. Drilling apparatus comprising, in combination, a percussive tool, pressure fluid feeding means therefor, the longitudinally extensible arm .3Q-33; the pivotal support 20-26 for said arm-extending in the same general direction as the axis of said percussive tool, and rack and pinion means 34--35 for producing extension or contraction of said extensible means.

14. Drilling apparatus comprising, in combination, a percussive tool, pressure fluid feeding means therefor in alinement therewith, the longitudinally extensible support 32-33 having two longitudinally relatively memes@ g5 extensible members heid in non-rotating re- 1n testimony whereof, have signed my lation to each other, said feeding means bename to this specication, in the presence of l@ ing connected to one of said members; a two subsciibing Witnesses. pivotal support having a pivot extending 5 in the same general direction as the axis of GERGE H GLMAN said percussive tool and connected to the Witnesses: other of said extensible members, substan- Lome A. JONES,

tialy as described. CLARA L. STUART. 

